“Let’s run Kitten for Mayor! She’s an ideal candidate-she has the common touch, she doesn’t mind hurly-burly, she runs around in circles, she knows how to throw dirt, and the opposition can’t pin anything on her.
“As to the sort of Mayor she would make, there is an old story-Aesop told it-about King Log and King Stork. We’re fed up with King Stork; King Log would be welcome relief.
“Memo to Hizzoner-what did become of those Grand Avenue paving bids?
“P. S. Kitten still has the 1898 newspaper on exhibit. Stop by and see it before our police department figures out some way to intimidate a whirlwind.”
Pete snagged Clarence and drifted down to the parking lot. The lot was fenced now; a man at a gate handed them two tickets but waved away their money. Inside he found a large circle chained off for Kitten and Pappy inside it. They pushed their way through the crowd to the old man. “Looks like you’re coining money, Pappy.”
“Should be, but I’m not. They tried to close me up this morning, Pete. Wanted me to pay the $50-a-day circus-and-carnival fee and post a bond besides. So I quit charging for the tickets-but I’m keeping track of them. I’ll sue ’em, by gee.”
“You won’t collect, not in this town. Never mind, we’ll make ’em squirm till they let up.”
“That’s not all. They tried to capture Kitten this morning.”
“Huh? Who? How?”
“The cops. They showed up with one of those blower machines used to ventilate manholes, rigged to run backwards and take a suction. The idea was to suck Kitten down into it, or anyhow to grab what she was carrying.”
Pete whistled. “You should have called me.”
“Wasn’t necessary. I warned Kitten and she stashed the Spanish-War paper someplace, then came back. She loved it. She went through that machine about six times, like a merry-go-round. She’d zip through and come out more full of pep than ever. Last time through she took Sergeant Yancel’s cap with her and it clogged the machine and ruined his cap. They got disgusted and left.”
Pete chortled. “You still should have called me. Clarence should have gotten a picture of that.”
“Got it,” said Clarence.
“Huh? I didn’t know you were here this morning, Clarence.”
“You didn’t ask me.”
Pete looked at him. “Clarence, darling-the idea of a news picture is to print it, not to hide it in the art department.”
“On your desk,” said Clarence.
“Oh. Well, let’s move on to a less confusing subject. Pappy, I’d like to put up a big sign here.”
“Why not? What do you want to say?”
“Kitten-for-Mayor-Whirlwind Campaign Headquarters. Stick a 24-sheet across the corner of the lot, where they can see it both ways. It fits in with-oh, oh! Company, girls!” He jerked his head toward the entrance.
Sergeant Yancel was back. “All right, all right!” he was saying. “Move on! Clear out of here.” He and three cohorts were urging the spectators out of the lot. Pete went to him.
“What goes on, Yancel?”
Yancel looked around. “Oh, it’s you, huh? Well, you, too-we got to clear this place out. Emergency.”
Pete looked back over his shoulder. “Better get Kitten out of the way, Pappy!” he called out. “Now, Clarence.”
“Got it,” said Clarence.
“Okay,” Pete answered. “Now, Yancel, you might tell me what it is we just took a picture of, so we can title it properly.”
“Smart guy. You and your stooge had better scram if you don’t want your heads blown off. We’re setting up a bazooka.”
“You’re setting up a what?” Pete looked toward the squad car, unbelievingly. Sure enough, two of the cops were unloading a bazooka. “Keep shooting, kid,” he said to Clarence.
“Natch,” said Clarence.
“And quit popping your bubble gum. Now, look, Yancel-I’m just a newsboy. What in the world is the idea?”
“Stick around and find out, wise guy.” Yancel turned away. “Okay there! Start doing it-commence firing!”
One of the cops looked up. “At what, Sergeant?”
“I thought you used to be a marine-at the whirlwind, of course.”
Pappy leaned over Pete’s shoulder. “What are they doing?”
“I’m beginning to get a glimmering. Pappy, keep Kitten out of range-I think they mean to put a rocket shell through her gizzard. It might bust up her dynamic stability or something.”